ABOUT THE MATCH
Immediately off the back of whitewashing Sri Lanka, Australia’s preparations for next year’s ICC T20 World Cup which they will be hosting move to a three-game series with Pakistan. The first match takes place at the SCG on November 3.
Australia won all three games against Sri Lanka with David Warner in superb batting form he hit 100*, 60* and 57* in the three matches to pass 2,000 T20i runs and lead the Aussies to a comfortable victory.
It was in stark contrast to Pakistan’s recent form against Sri Lanka a severely depleted Sri Lanka too as an inexperienced touring squad beat them in three matches out of three in Pakistan.
TOSS PREDICTION
Australia only won the toss in the third game of the series against Sri Lanka but was happy to field first. It could be a similar story at the SCG.
PITCH AND CONDITIONS
Showers are forecast later in the day in Sydney this game should start on time, but there may be delays later on.
Historically a batting haven, scores have got lower at the SCG in more recent times as the influence of the slower bowlers has increased.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Australia
Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Kane Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Pakistan
Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan
MATCH PREVIEW
Australia
- Glenn Maxwell has withdrawn from the squad to mental health concerns, with D’Arcy Short replacing the popular all-rounder.
- Ben McDermott came into the team last time out, however, instead. Mitchell Starc is available again, after missing the second match against Sri Lanka to attend his brother’s wedding.
- Andrew Tye will be out for a further four months, however, after needing surgery to correct his troublesome elbow injury.
- Australia was in fine form against Sri Lanka, cruising to three comfortable victories with David Warner in fine batting form. He hit an unbeaten century in a total of 233/2 in the first game, before they restricted Sri Lanka to 99/9.
- In the second match, they bowled Sri Lanka out for 117 and Warner top-scored with 60* in a nine-wicket win.
- Then, to round off the series, Warner’s unbeaten 57 from 50 balls led them to a seven-wicket win against the Sri Lankans.
Pakistan
- Pakistan’s response to their crushing home defeat to Sri Lanka is to turn to youth in the form of Musa Khan and also to recall the giant paceman Mohammad Irfan.
- Khushdil Shah and Usman Qadir who has Big Bash experience are also included. Babar Azam will lead the team, while Mohammad Rizwan will be behind the stumps.
- Pakistan slumped to three defeats out of three against Sri Lanka in their most recent T20i series, despite the tourists having a significantly weakened squad.
- They were bowled out for 101 and 147 to lose the first two matches by 64 runs and 35 runs respectively, and could then only reach 134/6 chasing 148 to win the final game.
PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:
Australia was in excellent form against Sri Lanka and they will be keen to continue that against a Pakistan team who struggled against a weaker version of the same opposition.
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